Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station

Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station is a dam on the Angara River with 18 turbines generating electricity for factories in the region. The structure runs more than 900 meters across the river and creates a reservoir that reaches far upstream.

Construction began in 1954 when the Soviet Union pushed to industrialize Siberia and harness hydroelectric power for new aluminum plants. Work continued for about a decade and led to the growth of Bratsk from a workers camp into a city.

The power station stands as a cultural heritage site, representing an engineering milestone of Russian hydroelectric development during the mid-twentieth century.

The site sits a few kilometers from the city center and can be reached by taxi or local bus. A visit makes sense mainly for those interested in large-scale industrial engineering.

In its first years of operation the plant was the largest hydroelectric facility in the world. It was later overtaken by another station on the Yenisei River.

Location: Bratsk

Inception: 1954

Length: 924 m

Part of: Angarská kaskáda

GPS coordinates: 56.28611,101.78611

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:31